Tag: history

4th of July Trivia (and a prize)

4th of July

One of our family’s Independence Day traditions is to have a little history trivia quiz.  It’s a fun way to test your knowledge of American history and to learn a few things.   This year I shared our quiz with friends and neighbors at our barbecue.  I thought I’d share it here, as well.  Answers will be posted Tuesday morning.  Good luck!


1.  What happened on July 4, 1776?

2.  What year did the Revolutionary War begin?  When did it end?

3.  Name the author of the Declaration of Independence.

4.  Recite the Preamble to the Constitution.


5.  Name 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

6.  In what year was the Constitution written?

7.  The U.S. Constitution is organized into how many articles?


8.  A series of articles were written and published to help convince Americans to support the ratification of the Constitution.  What were they called?

9.  How many of these articles were written?

10.  Name the three authors of the articles.

11.  Who wrote the fewest?  How many did he write?


12.  Who said the following:
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the Republican form of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, and finally staked on the experiment intrusted [sic] to the American people.”

13.  What form of government do we have?

14.  Name the battle which turned the tide of the war on Christmas Day, 1776.

15.  At the Battle of Monmouth, what woman’s heroic efforts carried the day for the American army?


16.   Name the man responsible for hauling cannon from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston for General Washington?

17.  Who wrote this:
“These are the times in which a genius would wish to live.  It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.  The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties.   Great necessities call out great virtues.  When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.”

18.  Name the man who led his men in executing critical amphibious operations for the Army during 1776 (and throughout the war).

If you wish to participate, post your answers in a comment.  The first person to answer correctly will win this flag holder. (Holds 5 flags) Special plea:  The idea to add a prize hit me in the middle of typing this post.  Someone, anyone, please save me and answer the questions!  You’ll have my undying gratitude, and a flag holder to boot.  (I love mine!)

Jennifer

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Interesting Memorabilia

Musings on Life and Beauty

My grandpa is a veteran of World War II.  His experiences are among my favorite family stories.

While staying at his home last week, I noticed an interesting book on his shelf.


It’s an untranslated copy, in German, printed in Germany.


Hitler’s picture at the front of the book:


The swastika on the front cover.


I love books.  They represent so many positive things to me.  It was interesting to hold this book in my hands, finger the yellowing pages and consider the ugliness that permeates this book.  It seems like such a curious piece of memorabilia to keep from the war.    Until you see what’s just inside the cover:

A picture of my great-uncle, my grandpa’s brother-in-law, sharing his opinion of the book and its author.


Here is the inscription.


Uncle Harry was a  photographer.  When he joined the army, he was assigned to Germany and was a photographer there as well.  My grandpa was in the Navy, stationed in the Pacific.  Harry sent this book home for Grandpa.

Just what was the “best possible use” for such propaganda?


With an addition like that, how could you NOT keep the book?  As for me, I love the handwriting, Harry’s signature, the thought of these two men sharing this memory, the picture of my uncle looking so young.  It’s a little piece of family history as well as a token from the war.


After sitting with my Grandpa to ask him about it, it’s become a memory for me as well.  I don’t know where the book will end up someday, but I wanted to preserve it for myself.

Hopeful Homemaker

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Seven Miracles that Saved America

History, Power of History

A few of you asked which history book I was reading when I posted about the power of history recently.  Having completed the book, I wanted to share it with you and share my thoughts about it.


The book is Seven Miracles that Saved America, Why they matter and why we should have hope by Chris and Ted Stewart.

I loved it.  It was a great “jump back into reading history” book for me.  The book goes through seven different events in U.S. history illustrating small things that did or didn’t happen and how the course of history would have been altered if they had happened differently.  The seven examples cited are:

Columbus’ discovery of America and why it was unlikely Jamestown, VA and the survival of the colony in spite of the “starving time” The Battle of New York during the Revolutionary War and the miracle of fog to cover the retreat Creation of the US Constitution Lincoln’s experience with prayer during the Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Midway in WWII Ronald Reagan’s unique talents and influence in ending the Cold War Of these seven events, I can say that I was already very familiar with five of them.  Even so, among those five the book contained research that either I wasn’t familiar with or hadn’t considered from that perspective before.  So although much of the book was review for me, I felt that I gleaned new thoughts and insights.  For instance, I had never studied Chinese history during the century leading up to Columbus with the question in mind, “Why didn’t the Chinese discover the New World?”  Learning about the decline of Chinese culture at that time was fascinating to me, not because I’d never heard it before, but because I hadn’t connected it with what was happening in Europe at the same time and the consequences it all had on the Americas.  I guess you could say that this book connected some dots in my mind, an illuminating experience!

This book is written from a Christian viewpoint, something which I am not the least bit bothered by.  My personal belief is like Benjamin Franklin’s, that God governs in the affairs of both men and nations.  I was also happy to find in the bibliography several books which I intend to read.  Experience has taught me that reading the bibliographies in historical books often shows me new paths to follow in learning.  It’s like a treasure hunt, and I love it.

Finally, the premise of the book was what inspired me to purchase it in the first place.  Most historians have a purpose in writing, something they’re hoping to prove, and they use historical facts to do it.   Often those facts can tell more than one story depending upon the perspective of the storyteller.  In today’s world there are few who use historical facts to support the idea that the United States of America has a purpose to fulfill in the world, that it has tremendous potential, and that believing in that potential and mission is worthwhile.  I found it refreshing to read.

In addition to this, it is interesting to consider how history might have played out if different things happened, or if certain things didn’t happen.  Obviously we will never know, but this book reminded me that sometimes there is significance in considering the other alternatives.   I realized that I have more to learn from both history and my personal life by asking that question.  Sometimes the hand of God is revealed in what didn’t happen, not only in what did.

While this book was not the best written history I’ve ever encountered, I found certain parts of it to be compelling.  If history is an intimidating subject for you, it is likely that you would find in this book a story that would pique your interest and make you hungry for more.  It is also an easily digested book because it provides only general overviews of historical events and isn’t a thick book focused on one single event.

In sum, I learned and am a better person for reading this book.   I recommend it.  If you’re interested, you can purchase it here .

Jennifer

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